The Cleveland Guardians showed no signs of rust in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, despite having a five-day break. After securing a first-round bye with the second-best record in the American League, the Guardians came out aggressively.
They exploded for five runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Lane Thomas, which put them ahead early. This remarkable start marked a historic moment, as the Guardians became the first American League team to score five runs without recording an out in a postseason game, according to OPTAStats.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the effectiveness of the Tigers’ pitching staff. The Tigers began the game with opener Tyler Holton, who has been one of the top relievers in baseball this season. In his first postseason outing, Holton successfully shut down the Astros in Game 2 of the Wild Card round. However, the Guardians managed to capitalize on Holton’s early struggles, forcing him out of the game without recording an out.
After the first four batters reached base, Thomas stepped up and launched a three-run homer to left field, extending the Guardians’ lead to 5-0 and prompting Tigers manager A.J. Hinch to turn to his bullpen early.
